Method of forging ingots, billets, and the like



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oc't. 14. 1924 l. D. THOMAS METHou oF/FORGING INGoTs, BILLETS AND THE LIKE Fild Nov.

0a.14. |924. A1,511,540 l. D. THOMAS 'METHOD or Fonema INGoTs', BILLETS, AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 2.' 1920 2 Sheets-sheen 2 WWE@ Q Z2@ www@ @jgs

Patented Get. 14, 1924e UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

IVOR D. THOMAS, OIF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WELLMAN- SEAVER-MORGAN COMPANY, F CLEVELAND, OHIO. A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METHOD O3? FORGING INGOTS, BILLETS, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Ivon D. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Forging` Ingotsl Billets, and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a method of forging' ingots or billets, and work 'of like nature.

Heretofore forgings have been made from ingots or billets worked under a hammer or 16 press of the vertical type. This required.

holding the piece being worked in a substantially horizontal position which has always presented more or less of a problem, depending upon the size of the piece worked, for as is well known by those engaged in the production of heavy forgings, the manipulation of the ingot or billet has not only been exceedingly difficult, but it required the services of many men.

In accordance with the present invention a horizontal press or hammer is utilized, and the ingot or billet is held in a vertical position while being worked, preferably by means of a crane with suitable provision for 80 hoistin and lowering thel forging, for rotating 1t about a vertical axis, and for moving it horizontally.

In the drawings which show one embodiment of apparatus which may be employed to advantage in carrying out my improved method, Fig. 1 shows one view of an overhead crane employed for handling the work, and of a horizontal press used in conjunction therewith; Fig. 2 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig 3 is a fragmentary view on a large scale. showing more of the details of the crane; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the press; Figs. 5 and 6 are side views, one taken at right angles to the other, showing the preferred ingot or billet gripping mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings. although it is not essential that the ingot or billet be supported by a crane of the overhead type, that type of crane lends itself very well to the problem at hand, and for that reason is shown in the drawings. The crane here shown includes a traveling bridge 10. movable along tracks 11, supported on a structure 12. The range of movement of 2, 1920. Serial No. 421,265.

the bridge is preferably such that the ingots or billets can be conveyed from the soaking pit or heating furnace to the press in which they are forged, and if desired, also to the machine tools in which the forged pieces are machined subsequent to the forging operation.

On the bridge is mounted a traveling trol# ley 13 on which is a rotatable carriagev 14 adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, and carrying a hoisting mechanism 15. From the hooks of this hoisting mechanism is supported suitable gripping mechanism 16, for engaging and supporting while in a vertical position, the ingot or billet 17 to be forged. i

With this crane or other suitable mechanism by which the work 17 can be supported vertically, is employed a horizontal press 18 which can be substantially of standard form. except it is arranged horizontally instead of vertically as has always been the case heretofore. The press is shown only conventionally in the drawings, but it will include a stationary base or anvil 19 and a reciprocating head 2O which can be operated with a horizontal stroke by any suitable means such as hydraulically, or by any other motive Huid or power means.

It is important` 0f course, that the work be capable of being lowered from above in an endwise direction between the base or anvil 19 and the head 20, and to provide room for lowering the work for substantially its full length between the anvil and the reciprocating head, a pit 21 is provided beneath the press.

Though the details of the, crane are not material to the present invention, I might mention that if an overhead crane is emn ployed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the trolley 13 may be moved lengthwise of the bridge 10 by a suitable motor such as indicated at 22 in Fig. 3, and the rotatable carriage 14 can be rotated by a suitable motor indicated at 23.

Likewise, the ingot gripping mechanism 16 may be other than shown, and in Figs. 5 and 6 I have showna construction which answers the requirements very effectively. In this instance the ingot or billet is adapted to be gripped on opposite sides by a pair of cam shaped grippers 24, mounted eentrally on a pair of shafts 25, whose. ends are journaled in a frame 26, through which the body of the ingot or billet is adapted to exten-d. rEhe ends of these shafts are provided with pinions 27 which are connected by idler pinions 28, to vertically movable racks 29,. to .which the hoisting mechanism is connected. lt vill be seen that if these racks are pulled upwardly by the hoisting mechanism, the cam shaped grippers 24 are rotated so as to tightly engage or grip the Work to be forged, Where as, if the fra-me of the gripping mechanismA f blocks may have as many sheaves as necessary, and the sheaves will be traversed by a hoisting rope or'cable 33 adapted to be Wound onto., and lunvvound from a drum, indicated at 34Min Fig. 3, and driven by a motor 35.' The drum and motor are mounted on the revoluble carriage 14, and the up yper block 32 will lbe yconnected to the center or axis of this carriage as shown in the drawings.k

VVith this mechanism the Werl: can be movedlaterally, can be raised and lowered, and can be turnedk about a vertical axis, these being all the movements necessary to 4enable. 4a piece being effectively forged in' thehorizontal press. All these motions, together lWith the operation of the press,

" maybe underrthe control of one operator` and in case the manipulator is in thel form of an overhead crane as herein illustrated.,

a double form of control may be provided so that the operator in the operators cab of the crane may deliver the Work over the press and may then by operating 4one or more switches put the control of the crane under the operator of the press. The operator of the press Will then bysuitable control instrumentalities be able not only to operate the press but give to the Work all the necessary movements, Which include raising and lowering the Work, moving it laterally, and turning it, so that it can be forged in the desiredy manner While continuously supported from above.

By this method the usual difficulties and the major portion of the manual labor attending the manipulation of large forgings While they are being forged is eliminated` and the forging can be done effectively ,and with greater' speed, and at lower cost than heretofore.

Having described my invention, I lclaim:

The method of making forgings which comprises suspending an ingot or billet in vertical position *from an overhead support capable of moving the ingot or billet lattei-ally, up and down, and rotating vit about a vertical axis, forging the ingot or billet, while thus supported, in a horizontal press, and manipulating the Work by raising or lowering the samey or by rotating it about its axis as may be necessary' during the forging operation. y

In testimony whereof, e l hereunto affix my signature.

VOR D. 

